With High Speed Rail on card, PM Modi welcomes Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Ahmedabad
With a major ray of hope for India’s High-Speed Rail (HSR), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached Ahmedabad of Gujarat on Wednesday for a two-day visit to attend the annual summit between the two countries. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Japanese PM and his wife Akie Abe at the Ahmedabad international airport, a ceremonial reception has also been arranged for the visitors.
PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart will be attending the 12th edition of the India-Japan annual summit at Modi’s home state Gujarat. Earlier PM Modi and Abe had met for 10 times including four crucial summit meetings.
#WATCH: PM Narendra Modi receives Japanese PM Shinzo Abe & his wife Akie Abe at Ahmedabad Airport. pic.twitter.com/Sui3i6jYdi
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2017
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To welcome the Japanese PM, two years after Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad, a rare 8-Km long road-show had been planned. Furthermore, more than 25 stages had been installed throughout the stretch to welcome the visiting dignitary with performances from artistes from various states donning their traditional attire. PM hosted the Japanese Prime Minister and his wife t terrace restaurant Agashiye, at the heritage hotel House of Mangaldas and Girdhardas, located across Sidi Saiyyed Ni Jali road.
As India welcomes PM @AbeShinzo, I thank him for his kind words on the robust India-Japan partnership and the strong potential of our ties. pic.twitter.com/TdnISF8E62
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2017
During the two-day visit of Shinzo Abe, PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart are expected to lay the foundation stone of the 508-km long Mumbai-Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The project, scheduled to be completed in December 2023 is expected to reduce the travel distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to around two hours from the existing 7 hours.
With Japan’s keen interest to scale-up its partnership in key flagship projects like Make in India, Skill India and the Clean Ganga Mission, India is expected to be beneficial from the Japanese technology in several sectors. And while India eyes to expand Japanese aids in areas such as environmental protection,
sewage building, forest protection, Japan had also shown its interest to expand the development cooperation to the north eastern parts of India.
Also, both India and Japan is expected to enhance its bilateral ties with Asian and African countries, especially with cooperation regarding infrastructural projects. As reported by the Hindustan Times, Kenji Hiramatsu, the Japanese ambassador to India said in a recent interview, “While Indian companies enjoy a large presence in Africa, Japanese companies possess advanced technologies. If we come together there, it could be a win-win situation for both countries.”
Furthermore, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Gujarat Maritime Board is expected to sign an agreement for developing the Alang shipbuilding yard. Earlier, Gujarat Chief Secretary, JN Singh had asserted that 15 Japanese companies, including Moresco, Toyoda Gosei, Topre and Murakami are keen to invest in Gujarat.